What's On The End Of Your Fork Today, Matters Tomorrow

If your memory is worse than it was ten years ago, you should know that your risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s has risen. Did you know that food can play an important role in getting your memory back to where you want it to be?

That is why I have put together a mnemonic called “Bright Minds” for this reason. This mnemonic gives you your memory loss risk factor and its brain healthy solution.

Here is a food for each:

Blood Flow: Pistachios raise a chemical in the body called arginine. Arginine helps blood vessels become wider and increase blood flows.

Retirement: as you age, your brain gets less and less active. One of the ways to reverse aging is to strengthen the antioxidant capability of your body. The most potent antioxidant on the planet is cloves.

Inflammation: It is a major cause of depression and dementia. Omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and curcumins that come from curry all decrease inflammation. Curried salmon would be the perfect anti-inflammatory meal.

Genetics: Some of us are more vulnerable to illness. With Alzheimer’s disease, if you have the genetic vulnerability, your body produces too much of something called beta-amyloid. Sage has A level scientific evidence to help your memory, plus it tastes awesome and decreases the production of beta-amyloid.

Head Trauma: Head trauma is a major risk for memory problems, Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. Shrimp boosts choline, which helps our brains make acetylcholine, which is very important, and very helpful for memory

Toxins: We live in a toxic world. Whether it’s your deodorant, shampoo, friends, or the toxic thoughts you have. Brassicas like cauliflower and brussel sprouts help boost glutathione in your body. Brassicas helps your liver work better and helps you detoxify.

Mental health: Saffron is this great spice that has been shown to have anti-depressant effects that boosts your memory, decreases your appetite while taking care of PMS. What could be better?

Immunity and Infections:  One of the best ways to strengthen your immune system is to boost your Vitamin D level. Eggs are a great way to incorporate Vitamin D into your diet.

Neurohormones: For men and women, testosterone is critical to your sense of energy, motivation, mood, memory, libido, and sugar like eating cheesecake for desert happens drops it. But, adding pomegranate can strengthen testosterone.

Diabesity: This is where you have a combination of high blood sugar, diabetes or pre-diabetes, and you’re overweight. It also increases your risk for memory problems. Cinnamon helps to stabilize your blood sugar, boost your mood, and it can decrease your appetite.

Sleep: If you’re not sleeping, you’re much more likely to get a head injury. Cherry juice naturally has melatonin in it, the hormone that helps us sleep.

A healthy and balanced diet- incorporating the foods listed in this Bright Minds mnemonic- regular exercise, and a good supplement regimen to support your nutritional deficiencies, brain, and body are all actions you can take to help your brain and memory today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. Good habits start when you’re ready.

*Previously published on: BrainMD Health

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About the Author:

Daniel Amen, M.D. is a double board-certified psychiatrist, professor and 10-time New York Times best-selling author. He is one of the world's foremost experts on using brain imaging tools to help optimize and treat patients. He is founder of Amen Clinics, which has the world’s largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior.